: PRAY

Latin Partner Mario Ágreda has completed his visit to the UK and is flying back to Argentina today.  As we give thanks for the blessings from his ministry here, let’s pray that what he has learned and experienced will benefit his pastoral and evangelistic work in Buenos Aires.

Crossing the Atlantic in the opposite direction tonight will be General Secretary Tim Dakin who is flying back from Argentina after the Provincial Executive and the consecration of Nick Drayson.  Pray for Tim, and also for Bishop Henry Scriven and Paul Thaxter of CMS who are visiting SAMS’ partners in the Diocese of Recife, Brazil.  Pray for fruitful meetings, and for their return journeys on Thursday and Friday.

On Friday a ‘Light Party’ is being offered at Jesús el Nazareno church in Lima, Peru, as an alternative to Halloween activities which have grown in recent years.  The party has been a great success in past years, and Pat Blanchard asks us to pray that this year also “we will deter the children in the neighbourhood from going off into the streets and that they will rather be encouraged in their faith through the activities and teaching we present to them.”

Praise God that on Sunday two ordinations to the priesthood take place in Madrid.  Rafa Arencón leads the mission church in Reus, and Rafa Arias manages the Anglican Student Centre in Salamanca as well as running the church there.   Pray for the service and for the two Rafas as they take this major step in ministry.

Latest prayer letters received into the SAMS office:

• Nick and Catherine Drayson in Northern Argentina
• Cristobal and Ale Ceron, Latin Partners in Chile

Fresh news items can also be found on the SAMS GB web site here

Some prayer letters received into the SAMS office:

• Janet and Alberto Mena (Associate MPs in Chile)
• David and Gina Hucker (MPs in Chile)
• Charles and Lynn Barr Johnston (Associate MPs in Northern Argentina)

Some blogs have also been updated recently:

• Andrew and Maria Leake
• Nick and Catherine Drayson
• Pat Blanchard

This Friday is dedicated in Peru to those living with disabilities, so the Shalom church and therapy centre in Lima have several activities planned for the children and families, including a street parade and a party.  Pat Blanchard asks prayer for God’s blessing on all involved.

Bishop Henry then jets off to South America on Sunday for a short tour of Ecuador, Northern Argentina and Brazil.  In Ecuador early next week he’ll of course be visiting Jill Ball.  Pray for travelling and meetings.

In Argentina the Provincial Executive of the Southern Cone gathers in Salta next week; pray for their discussions and fellowship.

We recently asked prayer for a Marriage Encounter weekend at La Serena church in Chile. Pastor Pablo & Pamela Zavala have written to share their delight in seeing the 17 couples newly rejoicing in their marriages, with some making a commitment to begin a walk with the Lord.   Let’s praise God with the Zavalas and ask his leading for all those couples.

Finally, please uphold the Butler family, recently returned from Paraguay.  Patrick is being inducted as curate of Emmanuel Church, Stoughton, Guildford, on Sunday, so please remember them in your prayers as they take this major step after long service overseas.

Some prayer letters and newsletter received into the SAMS office:

• Linn Tedman (Paraguay)
• Pat Blanchard (Peru)
• Caroline Gilmour-White (Paraguay)
• Jonathan and Hilary Rowe (Spain)
• Andy and Rose Roberts (Mission Partners, Brazil)
• Tim Curtis (Mission Partner, Paraguay)
• Beryl Baker (Associate Mission Partner, Paraguay)
• Wendy Power (Volunteer working with Beryl Baker in Paraguay)
• Pablo and Pamela Zavala (Latin Partners in Chile)
• First newsletter from My Father’s House in Olinda, Brazil

Paul Tester has been really encouraged to see the youth ministry in the Diocese of Peru come on strongly over the last couple of months.  Please pray for Lizbeth, the new diocesan youth ministry coordinator, who has made a great start in her new role, and for Paul as he visits Juliaca and Arequipa from 8^th -18^th October to strengthen the youth ministries in those cities.

On Friday SAMS GB Trustees meet at CMS offices in Oxford.  Pray for Chairman Patrick Coghlan and all gathered, that God would guide clearly in their deliberations and decisions.

We were privileged last month to welcome Latin Partner Cristóbal Cerón to the UK from Chile.  On Saturday Cristóbal is being ordained deacon in Santiago.  Pray for him and for Alejandra and the family on this very special day.

This follows the ordination on 26 September of Alister Morrison as presbyter at his church of St James’, Punta Arenas, in the far south of Chile.  Pray for Alister, Julie and family.

Finally, in Paraguay Caroline Gilmour-White has been introduced to a government department which offers training in various skills, including sewing.  Pray this contact will result in the training of leaders for sewing workshops and thus propel forward an important ministry much encouraged by Mission Paraguay short-term teams over the past two years.

Some prayer letters received into the SAMS office received this week.

• Paul and Sarah Tester
• Hugo and Techy Vergara

Ruth & Efraim Vilella moved last week from Recife in northeast Brazil to Porto Alegre in the south.  Please pray for them in their adjustment, for Efraim’s work and for Ruth as she explores possible projects in which she can use her skills and experience.  Remember too the House of Hope project in Recife and those in leadership there.  Ruth hopes to visit fairly regularly.

This weekend a Marriage Encounter event takes place in La Serena in Chile.  Pray for the couples attending, that their marriages may be refreshed and enriched, and uphold the leaders, including pastor Pablo & Pamela Zavala.

This weekend is also the 140^th anniversary of the Anglican church in Fray Bentos, Uruguay.  Pray for the celebratory services and events, and especially for pastor Gonzalo & Leticia Soria in their oversight of this congregation.

Early in October Neill Brice, son of mission partners Ed & Marie in Paraguay, marries his fiancée Deysi.  Pray God’s blessing on this wedding and for a long and happy Christian marriage.

Finally, flying in from Argentina on Monday are Latin Partner Mario Ágreda and Bishop Greg & Sylvia Venables.  Mario is making his first visit to the UK and is spending most of October here visiting churches and groups (including the Sheffield Area Roadshow), while Greg is coming principally for a primates’ meeting the following week.  Please keep them all in your prayers.